Cartridge toothbrush



Feb. 20, 1962 D, c. SMITH ETAL 3,021,850

CARTRIDGE TooTHBRUsH Filed April 22, 1959 David C, Smith Richard E MikesINVENTORS WWW HMM,

United States Patent @Hice 3,@Zl50 Patented Feb. 2G, 1962 3,621,854)CARTRiDGE TGTHBRUSH David C. Smith, 1336 Brown St., Des Plaines, Ill.,and Richard F. Mikes, Chicago, Ill.; said Richard F. Mikes assigner tosaid David C. Smith Filed Apr. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 808,163 S Claims. (Cl.132-84) This invention relates to new and useful improvements intoothbrushes and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, an article of this character having embodiedtherein a novel pressurized supply of tooth paste.

Another veryimportant object of the present invention is to provide atoothbrush of the aforementioned character comprising unique means forcontrolling the discharge of the paste to the bristles.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide acartridge toothbrush of the character set forth comprising automaticsealing means whereby any paste ejected from the cartridge and remainingin the forward portion of the brush after use, will be prevented fromdrying, hardening and clogging the device.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a cartridge toothbrush ofthe character described which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, compart, of light weight, sanitary,attractive in appearance and which maybe manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a view in vertical longitudinal section through a toothbrushconstructed in accordance with the present invention, showing thecartridge in retracted position and closed;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view substantially similarto FIGURE l but showing the cartridge in discharging position;

FIGURE 3 is a view in transverse section through the head, takensubstantially on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a reduced view 'in transverse section, taken substantiallyon the line 4 4 of FIGURE 2.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it wilt be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises atubular handle 5 of suitable dimensions and material. Formed integrallywith the tubular handle 5, on the forward end thereof, is a head 6. Thehead 6 includes a back 7 having embedded therein bristle tufts S.

The tubular handle 5 provides a cylindrical chamber for the reception ofa charged or pressurized tooth paste cartridge 9. At its forward end,this cartridge chamber 10 is substantially conical, providing what maybe considered a cam 11. Communicating with the chamber 10 through thesubstantially conical portion 11 thereof is a longitudinal passage 12 inthe back 7 of the head 6. The passage or bore 12 terminates in anenlarged, down- Wardly extending forward end portion or outlet 13 fordischarging the tooth paste from the cartridge 9 among the bristles 8.Mounted in the passage or bore 12 is a resilient tube 14. The inner endof the resilient tube 14 is provided with a self-closing inlet slit 15.The forward end of the tube 14 has formed therein a similar dischargeslit 16. The slit 16 communicates with the outlet 13 of the passage orbore 12.

The cartridge 9 is provided on its forward end with a laterallyswingable nozzle 17 which actuates a springloaded control valve (notshown) in said cartridge. Also mounted on the forward end portion of thecartridge 9 and encircling the nozzle 17 is a coiled spring 18. Thespring 18 is adapted to seat in the conical portion 11 of the chamber10.

Threadedly mounted on the rear end portion of the tubular handle 5 is aremovable cap 19. The cap 19 has formed therein a central opening 20. .Athumb actuated plunger 21 is operable in the opening 20 behind thecartridge 9.

It is thought that the use of the toothbrush will be readily apparentfrom a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the spring 1S, seated inthe conical cam portion 11 of the chamber itl, yieldingly retains thecartridge 9 in retracted position as seen in FIGURE 1 of the drawing.When a quantity of the paste in the cartridge 9 is desired, the plunger21 is actuated, thus pushing said cartridge forwardly against thetension of the spring 18. The nozzle 17 engages and rides on the cam1li, thus opening the cartridge 9 for permitting the paste to be ejectedtherefrom. The cone 11 guides the nozzle 17 into the tube 14 through theslit 15 thereof for discharging the paste into said tube, From the tube1li the paste passes through the slit 1t? into the outlet 13 and is"discharged among the bristles 8 in an obvious manner. When the plunger21 is released the cartridge 9 is immediately retracted by the spring 18and the nozzle 17 returns -to the position of FIGURE 1 of the drawing,thus closing said cartridge. As the nozzle 17 is withdrawn from the tube14 the self-closing slit cleans the tip of said nozzle and seals therear end of said tube. The self-closing slit it? automatically seals theforward end of the tube 14 when the pressure ceases, thus preventing thepaste in said tube from drying and hardening.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A fountain-type toothbrush comprising, in combination, a bristleequipped head having a longitudinally bored passage with an outlet fortoothpaste at one end and a toothpaste intake at the other end, atubular handle rigidly connected at a forward end to an adjacentrearward end of the head, said handle embodying an elongated hollowportion defining a chamber for an insertable and removable cartridgehaving a valve at one end and charged with pressurized toothpaste, theforward end of said chamber communicating operatively with the intakeend of the passage by a duct having sloping side walls which comprisecamming means, the longitudinal axes of said chamber and said boredpassage being substantially parallel and offset from one another andconnected by said duct, said chamber being of a length substantiallyequal to the length of said handle and greater than the length of thecartridge so that when the cartridge is inserted and fitted into thechamber it and the valves are capable of being slid toward and from saidcamming means for causing the camming means to operate the valve means,said handle being open at the rearward end to allow the cartridge to beinserted into or removed from the chamber, and manually actuatablechamber-closing and cartridge actuating means for actuating and slidingthe cartridge toward the camming means and alternatively releasing itfor movement in a direction away from the camming means.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 and in combination, a separatepressurized toothpaste containing member comprising said cartridgeremovably mounted in said chamber and being provided at its dischargeend with a valved spring-loaded nozzle comprising said valve which isnormally closed, the tip portion ofl said nozzle engaging and slidingagainst the camming means when said cartridge is moved toward said headwhereby the nozzle istilted laterally with respect to the axispof thecartridge and said valved nozzle is connected withV the interior of saidcartridge, the camming means serving to guide the tip o the nozzle intocommunicating and sealing relationship inrespect to the intake oftheaforementioned passage.

3. A fountain-type toothbrush comprising, in combination, a.bristle-equipped head having a longitudinally bored passage therein forreception of` toothpaste under pressure, said' passage having an outletat the forward end4 thereof to deliver the toothpaste to the bristles,the rearward end of said passage providing an intake for toothpaste, atubular handle having a forward end fixed to a rearward end of the head,and being openatits rearward end, said handle having an elongated hollowportion delining a chamber, substantially all of the for ward end' ofsaid chamber being conical infcross-sectiqn andthe surface of theconical portion providing a cam surfaceLthe apical portion of the camsurface registering and communicating with the intake of the passage insaid head, a removable cap provided on the rearward end ofY the handleand cooperatingwith and closing the adjacent end, of the chamber andprovided with a central opening, and a thumb actuated plungerreciprocabley in said opening, aV portion of the plunger extending intothe chamber and being adapted vto engage a cooperating end portion of atube of toothpaste Vfor moving `it toward :said cam surface.

4. The structure deiined in claim 3 and in combination, a..V readilyinsertabler and removahlearlidg S593-, rate from said handlevembodyiug atube of toothpaste charged with pressurizing media, said cartridge beingof a length less than the chamber and capable of sliding back and forthin the chamber-'between the plunger and conical camming surface, theforwardf end of said cartridge havingra laterally tiltable valvednogzle'mounted IVthereon, the tip of said nozzle` having slidingandcamming cooperation with said camming surface, the camrnirig surfaceserving when the cartridge is moved forwardly to tilt and guide thedischarge tipof the nozzle into communicating relation with the intakeof the aforementioned passage, andi a' spring in saidchamber., formovingl said cartridge rearwardly, Saidplunge? being 5.206119llf withthe end-ofthe Cartridgeadjacent thereto, J

5. The structure defined in claim 4 and in combination, aresilienttubeiitting within said bored passage having a self closingrinlet-- at saidintake for toothpaste and a sel@ closingv discharge atsaid outlet, said nozzle automatically guided intosaid inlet bysaid camsurface for Opening same when Said cartridge, is moved fDWe' Saidpassage-by Said plunger.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNrreD ewes PATENTS-

